Cushion-tire for road-vehicle wheels.



PATENTED MAY 19, 1908.

J. STEVENS. CUSHION TIRE FOR ROAD VEHICLE WHEELS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR.26,1905.

a SHEETS-SHEET 1.

ATTORNEYS.

PATENTED MAY 19, 1908;

I No. 888,269.

J. STEVENS. CUSHION TIRE FOR ROAD VEHICLE WHEELS.

A APPLICATION FILED MAR 26, 1906.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

,. EATITOHNE rs.

WITNESSES No. 888,269. PATENTED MAY 19,1908.

' J, STEVENS. CUSHION TIRE FOR ROAfl'VBHIGLE WHEELS.

ABPLIGATION FILED MAR. 26. 1906. I

' s SHEETS-SHEET a.

A TTOHN E )S I metal rim the rubber ringthi s arrangement UNITED STATES BriTENT OFFICE.-

JAMES STEVENS, OF LONDON, ENGLAND. i

CUSHION-TIRE son nonn vmrrom mans.

Specification 0! Letters Patent.

Patented May 19, 1908.

Application filed March '26, 1906. Serial No, 807,963.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JAMES STEVENS, consulting engineer, a subject of the King of Great Britain, residing at 9 Fenchurch avenu'e, in the city of London, En land, have invented certain new and useful mprovements in or Relating to Cushion Tires for the Wheels of Road-Vehicles, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to resilient or cushion tires for the wheels of road vehicles and is designed to rotect the rubber or other resilibeing designed to obtain the resilient or cushioning action of the rubber without the rubberm'alc'ing contact' wi'th the road. Also I am aware that asimilar arrangement has i been proposed in whiclrthleexterior metal ratel within the flanges of a. U-shaped channel, and

' her ring) allround as reviously suggested.-

sheath forming the outer treadrisformed'in sections'and each's'uchflsection bolted sepato the folly of" the wheel and fittlng each'sectiori havi a series of inwardly opening pockets forms on the inside face thereof, to receive separate cushions of rubber or metal sprin ms'aid pockets all round the periphery sue separate cushlons being used instead of acontinuous-band of rubber (or'rub- I am also aware that it as been proposed to protect rubbertires by the use of metal shoes of channelshape','such shoes beingpivoted to Q the rim flanges or felly'of the wheel.

- I do not use any of the foregoing arrangements but according. to my resent invent on I proceed as follows :-The elly of the wheel is provided with a channeled rimadvantageously of U-shape in cross-section (or two or more such channels ma be em loyed for forming a twin tire or p ural trac tire) for holdj therein the'elastic cushion of rubber or the e; and the sides or flanges of such rims are advantageously formed at right angles to the bottom of said rim, and are advan tageously flat on the outer side or otherwise suitably formed; and I provide at protecting covering for the said elastic cushion comprising a series of channel shaped sections advantageously ]sha ed sections of steel or iron or othersuitab e metal (which I- shall hereinafter refer to" as the-shoes) which are specially mounted in inverted position over the aforesaid elastic cushion and secured in accordance with thisinvention as herein'- after exflained -"A protecting covering is thus provided (for the elastic cushion) which forms the actual wearing surface for contact with the ground; and the shoes are each se cured and mounted in position over and so as to inclosethe elastic cushion or cushions (ad vantageously an endless band 'of rubber) around the periphery of the wheel as follows: The cushion of rubber or other resilient material is mounted and secured on or in or to the rim in any well-known or suitable man ner (for example in any of he well-known manners at present employ .d and suitable for my purpose) and the side flanges of the shoe g ections may be of such depth as not to overlap the rim flangesbut nevertheless of such size as to sufiiciently embrace and inclose the cushion of rubber etc. to protect same. 4 f

The edges of the shoe sections may be so formed as to receive therein or to have attached thereto a flexible tie or ties such as -a metal rod or wire rope or the like which is firmly secured on each side to or through each of the shoe sections all round the wheel and the ends of said flexible tie or ties are then secured together by any suitable means advantageously a. tightening arrangement in each shoe (soas to enable same to be tightened up to any desired extent) and thereby forrn practical y an endless rin on each side. Means may also be provided i desired to attach said flexible metal tie or ties at one or more points to the rim or web of the wheel.-

Furthermore I employ a flexible bandfifor example, a flat wire rope or metal band or the li e all round the peri hery of the cush ion (of rubber, etc.) and etween the latter and the metal shoes so as to protect the rubbar, etc., at the intervals-between the adjoining ends of the shoe sections. The said shoes are riveted or otherwise connected to the flexible band; in suchwise as to prevent circumferential-movement of the shoes relative to each other and to the flexible bandf Furthermore I advantageously employ any suitable means in order to prevent creeping of the ring of shoe sections with respect to the rubber and for this purpose I may advani tageously adopt the following :--The cushion of rubber, etc, on its outer periphery may be provided with a series of conca'vitics or other depressions either arranged cquall all round such periphery or at any sultab e point or points thereon adapted to receive insertion pieces of any suitable 1Iiaterial axlvantagcously formed on the underside as a coun-- trepart of said concavity or depression in the rubber and these insertion pieces are located.

between said parts of'the periphery of the rubber cushion and thefiat Wire rope between the cushion periphery-and the shoes,

or if such wire rope is not used then these in.- sertion pieces may be laid between, the rubber cushion and the inside of the tread of the shoe sections direct; the said insertion pieces being secured to the Wire rope or to the shoe sections or both by any suitable means.

Thus independent movement is permitted to eachJnet shoe'as same makes contact with. the ground while all are firmly and safely secured together in positionover the cushion of rubber, ere. I

In the accolnp anying drawings :Figure 1 is a view in elevation of a Wheel fitted with a tire protector or shield according to this in. venti'on with part of the whcel flange and several flanges of the shoe sections removed to show the interior arrangements. Fi 2 is a transverse section on the. line a-a L 1.

Fig. 3 is a local transversesection on an enlarge'd scale-on the line a-a Fig. 1', Figs.

4 and 5 show a modification wherein the myention is carried out without the employment of anymetalrod or tie 6 on the inner edges of the flanges of the shoes. 5 nearest to the center of the wheel; Fig. 4 being a similar view to Fig; Linside elevation with part of the rim flange broken'away and also the side flanges of some of the shoes broken away showin ,this modification on a twin track wheel ig. 5 being a local' cross-sectional view on line 55 Big. 4.

R ferring now more particularly to Figs. 1

a to 3 1 represents the felly of the wheel and 2 2rare circular metallic flan es which are secured to the sides of the fol y 1 by the bolts and nuts 3 3 or by any other suitable means.

' The diameter of the said-flanges: 2 2 is made greater than that of the felly 1 to which they are secured-in such manner that the project'- ing edges'of the flanges 2 2 form a channel on the rim ofrectangular'form (or thereabou-ts) in cross-section and of an desired de ,t'h all round the eriphery of t e wheel. n the said channe or rim 1s fitted an elastic cushion 4. (advantage iusl an endlessband of rubber). The outer sides 0 the flanges 2-2 are flat and reparallel to.each other and are adapted to receive thereover a series of U -shaped or U- .shaped sections (of;m etal) 5 5 which I have termed the shoes which 'form the protct covering for the elastic cushion 4 and are formed projections 5 5 (Fig.1) in which are provided holes equidistant rom the center of the wheeland running circumferen tiall there-through. The said holes .rna

be s otted radially as shown in Fig. 3 (to al: low for the movements of the shoe sections during the runnin of thewheel) and are adapted to receive t erein a metal tie or tiesfor exam is a metal rod'or a Wire rope6. Each suerod 6 as illustrated 'asses through the projections 5 5 of severa pairs of shoe sections 5 and the ends ofthesaid rods or 'ties (3 are then secured (connected) together by any suitable means-fcr example by a turn-buckle or tightening arrangement 7 (Fig. 1).- The turn buckle 7 is arranged to fit in between'thc projections 5 5 of any in dividual shoe section-p and is provided-withtightened up to any desired extenwand thereby form practically acomplete ring on each side of the wheel -to which each flange of each shoe section is attached and the whale series as a-compl-ete ring can be tight- .ene u It WI 1 be obvious that if desired eachrnetal rod or wire rope 6 may-be made longer or shorter so as to extend through'a'greater or less number of the shoes, or so as to' extend no a all round the whe'el'with one turnbuckle only v v for example (about)" six lengths of such wire rope or metal rod 6 with a correspondingnumber ,of'turn-buckl'es 7 maybe employed on each side'afte'r the manner illustrated in vashers 8 of an suitable material (ad.- vantageously ofrub er) may be inserted betweeneach pair of shoe sections to minimize the friction and noise during the running of the wheel and said washers'may convenientl be secured in position by. being placed on t e rods 6 between the projections 5 5 of the adjoining shoe sections- 5. By the above 'described arran ement-i'nde endent. movement is permitte to each-meta shoe 5.

as same makes contact with the ground; .while all are firmly and safely secured together in position'over the cushion of rubber ,etc. b means of the said metal ties-or rods 6.

A da .wire rope or band 9'is inserted-between the outer periphery of the rubber cushion and the inside of the shoes 5 sa1d flat wire ro e 9. being of suitable flexibility; and the en s of same may be spliced or joined 1n any suitable manner (or the flat wire'rope may be manufactured in the for-moi a com-- periphery of t e rubber cushion 4; and furthermore each metal shoe 5 is attached to this flat wire rope or other metal band 9 by means of r1vets1-0-'or other suitable fasten ings, on object of the said flat wire rope or band be g to prevent nipping of'the rubber cushion 4 between the adjoining ends of the a relative position. 2

' curved. so that the tread portion thereof shoes 5 owing to the movement of the latter during the running of the wheel; and furthermore this flat Wire rope or band serves to locate'and maintain each shoe its proper .The sh es maybe of anysuitablelength forexample the shoe sections 5 may each be about three inches in lengthandsuitably forms a true circle as the running surface of the wheel and furthermore such outer surface or tread may beroughened or formed with grooves, channels, ridges, projections, studs or otherwise formed (if required) of an anti-slippr g or non-skidding or other desired character.

':.;: .The indie-rubber cushion or continuous ring of rubber 4 whether formed in one-or j more pieces may if desired be of arched.for

. 'gnation or any other desired form in crosslaid betweemthe insertion'pieces 12 and- 'the rubber tire 4 .or this band 11 may be #flfiotion and sufficient. room is left or allowed I 30 inside the cushion chamber (formed between the 1""an'd the interior of the shoe sec' tions 5);;;.o allow. said rubber to be compressed bi. extendedin any desired direction or directions.

terial (e. g. leather or canvas etc.) whichis dis ensed with if desired.

norder-to prevent creeping either of the i ring of shoe sections 5 with'rspe'ctto the v rubber 4 or wheel rim 1 and also toprevent creeping of the nibber 4 with respectto the i underside as a counterpart of said" concavity wheel rim 1 orfshoe sectionsf5- -I advan ta'geou'sly form the cushion of rubber 4 on' its outerperip'hery with a seriesof concavities 4 F i 1 (or other depressions) arranged equall al round the periphery (or at any suitab e point or points thereon) adapted to receive insertion pieces 12 12'of'any'suitable material .(for example metal) formed on the or depression 4'? in the rubber cushion4 and the said'insertion pieces l2 jare laid in betweensaid p'artsof'the periphery of the rubber cushion 4 and theflat wire rope 9 be A tween' the cushion periphery andtheshoes.

When pneumatic'tires' are used the externalcover of the air tube must be so arran ed,

orother means so provided, that the said air tube cover is notdestroyed or in ured by the movements of the shoes.

v -Referring now to Figs. 4 and 5 :The elastic cushion 4which is shown as an endless.

band of rubber in each ofthe tracks of the 11 is a loose bandof suitable flexible ma-- twin'track 'wheel is provided with a ass-Of.

' metal shoes '5 which form :the protecting cover 'for each said elastic cushion 4 and also firm the actual wearing surface which makes 0 vntact with the ground; each said shoe5 being secured as aforesaid, for exam 1e by the rivets 10 to the fla't wire rop'e'9 wliich is" advantageously anendless flat- Wire rope manu actured the form of a complete ring, and also the shoes arefadvantageously riveted through the flat wire-rope 9 to the insertion pieces 12 whichlatter fit in the concavities'4 formed in the periphery of the rubber band 4 and serve as feathers to prevent creeping of the protective cover with respect to said rubber band 4. A band 11 ofsuitable flexible material as before described Inay" (if-desired) be laid in between the insertion pieces 12- and the rubber tire 4. If desired a-screw"13 may be passed through each sideflange of each metal shoe 5 into the insertion iece 12as shown, in Figs. 4 and 5.

What claim is 1. Aprotecting cover for resilient tires of wheels of road vehicles comprising anend' less flexible band around the'periphery of said resilient tire, a series of'concavities. in

the periphery of the resilient tire, insertion pieces fltting'insaid concavities and located etwee'n said banda'ndthe resilient the all round the latter to preventcreep, a series of protecting shoes of channel shape in crosssection, andmeans to secure said shoes to the said band and lnsertion p1ece sto there by hold said shoes-spaced aoart lIl POSLQQD ble material such as leather or canvas located between the-said insertion" pieces and-said resilient tire. substantially as described.

' 2 A protecting cover for resilient tires of wheels of road vehicles comprising an endless flexible metal band around the periphery of said resilient tire, a series of concavitics n the periphery'of the resilient tire, insertion ieces fitting in said concavitics and located Between said band, and the resilient tire all round the latter to prevent creep, a series of protecting shoes of channel shape in crosssection, and means to secure said shoes tothe said band and insertion pieces-tdthcrcby 'hold said shoes spaced apart inposition over the said resilient tire, and a band of flexible material such as leather or canvas located between the said insertion pieces and said resilienttire substantially as described.

. 3. A protectin cover for resilient tires of wheels of road vehicles co1nprisin an endless wire rope around the periphery ent tire, a series of concavities in the periphcry of the resilient tir'e, insertion )icces fitting in said concavities and located between said rope and the resilient tire all round the latter to prevent creep, a series of protecting shoes-ofchannel shape in cross-section, and means to secure said shoes to the said rope of said rcsiliover thesaid resilient tire and a band of flexi- I band and and insertion 'piee 'Ilanges of the channel shape i to thereby hold said shoes spaced apar in-position over the said resilient tire, and a band of flexible material. such as leather or canvas located between the said insertion pieces and said resilient tire substantially described. I

4. A protecting cover for resilient tires of wheels of road vehicles comprising a ring of flat wirerope aroul'id. the periphery oi said resilient tire,

pieces littin in said concavities and located between said rope and the resilient tire all round the latterto prevent creep, a ser1es of Seance a series of concavities in the '])(..l1I')l'1GI' V of the resilient tlre, insertion protecting shoes 'o'fchannel shape in'crosssection, and means to-secure said shoes to the p1eces-to thereby hold said shoes spacial apart in position over said rope and insertion the said resilient tire, and a band ofillexible material such as leather or canvas located be: tween the said insertion pieces and said resili ent tire snbstantially'as described.

5. A protecting cover for. resilient tires of wheels of'road vehicles; comprising an endless metal band around the periphery of saidiesilient tire, a series of protecting shoes of channel shape in cross section secured to said band, and means to flexibly connect the shoes, substantially as described. 1

l 6. A protecting cover for resilient tires of wheels of road vehicles; comprising an endless nietal band around the pe *iphery of said resilient tire, a'series of protecting shoes of in cross'section secured to said band, insertion pieces located between said the resilient tire all round the latter to prevent creep of said band and shoes 15 channel. shape in cross-sectlon secured to said band, a series of coneavities in the peri hery of the resilient tire, insertion pleces fitting in said concavities and located between the said band and the resilient tire all round the latter to prevent creep of said band and shoes' thereon, and ineans toflexibly connect the flanges of the shoes, substantially as de scribed. r.

8. A protecting cover for resilient tires of wheels of road vehicles; comprising an endless metal. band around the periphery of said resilient tire, a series of protecting shoes of channel shapelin cross-section secured to said band, a series of concavities in the periphery of the resilient tire, insertion ieces fitting in said concavities and locatec between the said band and the resilient tire. all round the latter to prevent creep of saidband and shoes thereon, a band of flexible material such as leather or canvas located between the said. insertion )ieces and said resilient tire, and means to ilexibly connect the flanges of the shoes, substantially as described. In witness whereof I have hereunto Hand in presence of two witnesses.

J AMES STEVENS.

setlny 7o 3.; I. LIDDON. 

